400 Hollywood stars rally behind Jimmy Kimmel in free speech fight

Hundreds of Hollywood celebrities have joined an open letter organized by the American Civil Liberties Union in support of Jimmy Kimmel and the protection of free speech. The letter comes after ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely, following a monologue in which Kimmel commented on MAGA supporters’ reactions to the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension followed threats from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to affiliate broadcast license holders, prompting major station owners, including Nexstar and Sinclair, to pre-empt Kimmel’s show.

The ACLU letter condemns such actions, stating that pressuring artists, journalists, and creatives through threats or retaliation “strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.” Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, likened the situation to a modern McCarthy era, warning that the government’s interference with private media companies threatens constitutional freedoms. “If it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us,” Romero said.

Signatories of the letter include Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Jane Fonda, Selena Gomez, Olivia Rodrigo, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kathryn Hahn, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Keaton, Jamie Lee Curtis, and dozens more, reflecting broad support from Hollywood’s entertainment community. The letter stresses that defending free expression extends beyond entertainers to teachers, lawyers, researchers, universities, and students, all of whom can face censorship or retaliation.

The statement urges Americans of all political affiliations to join in protecting constitutionally protected rights, emphasising that standing up for one individual’s freedom of speech safeguards the rights of all. The letter has reignited public debate over the boundaries of government influence, corporate responsibility, and media freedom, while some public figures have also pledged to boycott Disney and its subsidiaries in protest.

The ACLU concluded with a call to action, “This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation. We encourage all Americans to join us, along with the ACLU, in the fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights.”